Hawaii lawmakers are considering legislation that would allow residents to kill feral chickens and classify them as a “controllable pest” on public land in Honolulu.

We understand that communities are frustrated. Complaints about feral chickens increased by 51% in 2025. Residents have raised concerns about noise, property damage, and aggressive behavior. These are real issues that deserve real solutions.

But authorizing residents to kill chickens cannot be the first step.

The Hawaiian Humane Society opposes allowing residents to kill feral chickens for population control unless all other strategies have been exhausted. That standard matters. Once lethal measures are left to individual discretion, it becomes difficult to ensure humane treatment, consistency, or meaningful oversight.

Hawaii has long embraced mālama — care and stewardship for living beings and the land. A coordinated, humane management plan should come before giving individuals the authority to kill animals in neighborhoods and public spaces.

Lawmakers should prioritize expanded trapping programs, stronger enforcement against feeding and releasing chickens, and exploration of non-lethal population control methods. A comprehensive, science-based approach can address community concerns without normalizing killing as the default solution.

We urge the Hawaii State Legislature to reject any proposal allowing residents to kill feral chickens until a humane, evidence-based statewide plan has been fully implemented and evaluated.

Hawaii can solve this problem with both compassion and responsibility. Sign this petition to demand humane solutions first.